In the wake of Hanuman Jayanti celebrations on Thursday, the Delhi Police have granted permission to take out a procession at northwest Delhi's Jahangirpuri but with regulations. Jahangirpuri witnessed communal violence during the festival last year.
The organisers had applied for permission to take out a Hanuman Jayanti procession in the area and the route has been regulated. "In order to maintain law and order, permission has been given to take out the Shobha Yatra within a certain distance. Discussion held with the organising committee and an appeal have been made to take out the Yatra as per law and order", police sources added.
Special Commissioner of Police (law and order) Deependra Pathak too told reporters that the celebrations are being regulated in consultation with the organisers. A flag march was taken out by the police in the Jahangirpuri area on Tuesday.
However, permission was denied to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and another group to undertake Shobha Yatra in Jahangirpuri. Police told ANI that VHP and another group had sought permission to take out processions but were denied keeping in view the law and order situation.
Elaborate security arrangements are also in place in the Jahangirpuri area.
The Union Home Ministry on Wednesday urged all states to ensure law and order during Hanuman Jayanti and monitor any factor that could disturb peace and harmony in society. The advisory came in the wake of communal violence last week during Ram Navami celebrations.
"The MHA has issued an advisory to all states in preparation for Hanuman Jayanti. The governments are encouraged to ensure the maintenance of law and order, peaceful observance of the festival, and monitoring of any factors that could disturb communal harmony in society," the Home Minister's Office tweeted.
Central forces in Bengal
The central armed police forces were deployed in West Bengal to assist the state police in maintaining law and order during the Hanuman Jayanti celebration on April 6, the Union Home Ministry said on Wednesday.
The Calcutta High Court had also directed the West Bengal government to seek central forces to assist the state police. The state had witnessed violent clashes in Howrah and Hooghly districts during the Ram Navami festival recently.
Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has decided to conduct 500 Hanuman Jayanti programmes across the state but no weapons would be carried in the processions.
